I recharged my prepaid card on 02 Oct 10 for Rs.100 for which there was a talktime of about Rs.85/- (I don't remember the figure exactly). I was taken by shock to note that my amount had reduced to Rs.20/- despite the fact that I had made hardly 4 to 5 calls for only few minutes over a period of 5 days. When I contacted the customer care center, one fellow said that some message service pertaining to actor Vijay was found activated and therefore the reduction in tariff was effected. He said that everything was sorted out at the other end and there wouldn't be any problem in the future. But I found that was getting a standard indication in my mobile 'unable to access server' and 'DNS service not available', which I'm not aware of the terminology even now. The first fellow's name was Balaji.
I was again taken aback to find that the deduction was continuing and nearing to Rs.10/-. I contacted the Customer care once more and started narrating the same problem to some other fellow, the reply which was not convincing. I asked him to connect me to his senior officer and he connected me to one Mr. Mariya Doss. He told me that an internet connection was found activated in my mobile and hence the charges were deducted at 30 paise per usage. He instructed me to make some changes in my mobile which I did at his behest. Even then the problem wouldn't solve. I thought I'll speak with somebody and exhaust the amount as anyway the money would be looted my airtel. I nullified the amount after speaking to one of my known acquaintances. I requested for the number of Mariadoss, which he gave as 9344044439 as I cannot be repeating the same episode to everybody. The best point is that I never browse over internet in my mobile. And in-spite-of that I double checked everything is inactive as far as internet operations are concerned. Even then I would get the same messages like ' DNS Service not available' and 'Unable to access server'. How could it be when I'm not using any internet service and everything has been supposedly deactivated at their end? Alas! Mariadoss wouldn't lift his mobile even after making scores of calls. Is it the way Airtel operates? Shame on Airtel.
I later went to Airtel customer care center near Trichy bus stand only to find that nobody knows the technicality of the subject and I had to speak over the hotline from there to the same fools, who pose themselves as customer care representatives over phone. Wah Airtel! Now a lady by name Pushpa comes in and asks me about the problem and I go wild. How many times I have to explain the problem to several people? She was sportive enough to hear all my tempered words and finally guarantees that everything is OK now and I can rest assured go ahead with my recharge. I asked her what happens if again my amount gets deducted automatically. She said that she is pretty sure that the problem has been resolved and she would give me a credit if the problem persisted. Taking her words for granted, I purchased a Rs.10/- card and gave a try. The devil is back. Within 2 hrs of charging, I found that the amount has reduced to Rs. 4.20 out of talktime of Rs.6/-. Pl.note that I haven't made any external calls by then. Again everytime I find the message 'unable to access server', I find 30 paise being deducted from my account.
Again I give a try to the mobile number 9952434865 supposedly belonging to some Cynthia, who is the nodal officer in Airtel. This number was given by Pushpa after my repeated questioning. I tried to check out the status of the cast iron guarantee given my 'Pushpa the great' . And now comes another female 'Vinitha' asking me to explain the same history once more. I shout at her and say that she better rings me up at the earliest. I ask her about Pushpa and she says she sits somewhere else at some other place. Howzzatt? Vinitha apologizes and says she will get back to me immediately after settling the problem and there is no mention about 'Cynthia'. I wait for her call and as usual typical of shameless bunch of Airtel group, she never rings me up. I thought I'll try from my side. Alas! I find the same music ringing but people to no avail. Shame on you Airtel, living like a parasite on others money without providing any service. My money out of the balance Rs. 4.20 is rapidly decreasing. What do I do Mr. Sunil Mittal? Should I say shame on you too because of the inefficiency of your staff?
Is there any reprieve at all from Airtel?
Do you hear me Mr. Sunil Mittal?
Murthy.
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